The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including left leg radiculopathy, is currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The increased rating and separate rating for the neurological manifestation are granted.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports a finding of ankylosis in the thoracolumbar spine, warranting the current 40% disability rating. Additionally, left leg radiculopathy is separately rated as it does not overlap with the primary service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- anterior lumbar spondylolisthesis, left leg radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- November 5, 2015
- Citation
- 1546930
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1546930.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted the restoration of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA), effective May 1, 2020. The decision was made due to procedural errors in the previous termination decisions.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back condition, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy as secondary to a lower back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his inability to dress, undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, require frequent adjustment of prosthetic appliances, feed himself, attend to the wants of nature, or have an incapacity requiring assistance from others.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service. The case will be returned for further action.
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